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Bike Rack questions

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
Forum Discription: Perplexed/need help with a problem - ask here
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12458
Printed Date: 02 May 2024 at 4:47am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Bike Rack questions
Posted By: Mbearden
Subject: Bike Rack questions
Date Posted: 04 Dec 2018 at 9:02am
Looked at the spare tire receiver thinking it might work for a bike rack.  I have a Thule rack and the bracket looks pretty flimsy.  The Jackit rack looks good but it looks like a high lift to load the bikes.

Has anyone had the 1.25 inch receiver strengthened?

And was that a satisfactory solution?


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Mike Bearden



Replies:
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 04 Dec 2018 at 9:29am
The 1-1/4" receiver on a pod is very limited in the amount of weight it can hold. The spare tire is probably close to the weight limit. Putting a bike rack back there might be more stress than spare simply because of the larger moment arm.

Forrest River makes a bike rack that they approve for use there.

What some people have done is weld in a full 2" receiver underneath. There is not enough "meat" in that location to make that work reliably, so you also need to weld in outriggers that will carry the load to the outside frame members.

Look through the archives here, there are a number of members who have done this or something like it.


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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost


Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2018 at 7:39am
I did the major bike rack modifications. Here is a link to what I have done.


http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12030&KW=bike+rack&PID=113437&title=pod-peoples-179-mods#113437

We have successfully used this with 2 bikes for many trips with no damage apparent.  The existing 1 1/4" will not  support 2 bikes for the long term without damage to the pod's frame and potentially more damage to bikes and people following you.
Vann


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Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179
https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9">


Posted By: Mbearden
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2018 at 12:02pm
Must be me ...but I can’t open that link.




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Mike Bearden


Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2018 at 12:08pm
Highlight the link, right click, and specify to open or open in new tab. It works that way. The link was pasted as text.

If pasting a link, the better way is to open the web link dialog (globe with chain link) and paste the link there, eliminating the http:// in the link if it is there (what is pasted should only be the "www." and following. The drop-down will supply the http://. Then the link will work as expected.


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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS


Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2018 at 3:31pm
Here is a bike rack that fits the 1 1/4" receiver.  I got it from Amazon and it weighs, including our bikes, a little less than the spare tire.  Since it sticks out a little further from the back than spare, it probably is exerting a little more leverage on the hitch receiver, but not likely a heck of a lot.  

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004R388JG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004R388JG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If one of our engineer board members could calculate the force difference, I'd sure like to know.  But I sacrificed a duck to the bike rack goddess so I'm pretty confident it'll work just fine.  My sources tell me she isn't fond of chicken.

I was thinking of adding a strap from the top of the bike rack to the back of the trailer, but I don't think the spoiler will hold it.  There aren't any good mounting spots without penetrating the roof.


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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost


Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2018 at 5:00pm
I would suggest drilling a hole at the end of the frame beam on each side and installing an eye bolt. Then you can connect a ratchet strap from the eye bolt to the bike rack for additional stability. With a strap on each side, the side to side and front to back movement is minimized as much as possible.

I also use a hitch tightener to eliminate any movement between the hitch receiver and shank. The idea is to eliminate as much potential movement as possible
Vann


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Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179
https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9">


Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2018 at 7:10pm
Sounds interesting.  Thanks for the suggestion.

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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost



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